NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Junior Margie Curran scored her fifth hat-trick of the season to help lead the 12th-ranked Vanderbilt women's lacrosse team to a 9-6 victory over California Wednesday at the VU Lacrosse Complex.

Curran's third goal of the game came at the 5:48 mark of the second half. Cal had cut a three-goal lead down to one (7-6) just minutes earlier, but the Commodores were able to control possession of the ball and eventually find their leading scorer in front of the net.

Senior Kendall Thrift also scored four points for the Commodores, adding two goals and a pair of assists. Twice in the second half, Thrift was able beat her defender to score unassisted goals.

Outstanding goalkeeping was another theme of Wednesday's game, as both netminders saved more shots on goal than they allowed in. VU junior Brooke Shinaberry made seven saves, while Cal's Hilary Lynch had 13 stops. Defensively, junior Sasha Cielak was a star for the Commodores. Cielak forced four Cal turnovers and scooped a game-high six ground balls.

The game was close throughout. Cal tallied the day's first goal, with Laura Cavallo scored less than five minutes into the game. Vandy tied the game four minutes later when Curran found junior Ashley Paschall.

After another Cal goal, the Commodores would score three consecutive goals -- with a goal by Ali Lemons sandwiched between two Curran scores. But Cal would fight back again, scoring twice to even the game just before halftime.

The Commodores scored the first three goals of the second half, as Thrift and Jennifer Tapscott both found the back of the net. The Bears would score twice to pull within one at the 9:41 mark of the period, but Vanderbilt put down the clamps at that point. Goals by Curran and sophomore Cara Giordano iced the victory for Vanderbilt (6-3, 1-1 ALC).

The game, originally scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. CT, was delayed by one hour due to weather in the Nashville area. The Commodores will remain at home this weekend to host another west coast foe, as Stanford visits the VU Lacrosse Complex on Saturday, March 31, for a Noon CT draw.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. Sophomore Madeleine Dale scored to put California within one goal of 12th-ranked Vanderbilt at 7-6 in the second half, but the Golden Bears eventually lost to the Commodores, 9-6, on Wednesday evening after a one-hour delay at the Vanderbilt Lacrosse Complex. Cal's record fell to 5-2, while Vanderbilt improved to 6-3.

Four Bears - Dale (2 goals), senior Liz Reifsnyder (1, 1), senior Laura Cavallo (1, 1) and junior Danni Zuralow (1, 1) - tied for the team lead in scoring with two points each. Vanderbilt's Margie Curran led all scorers with four points (3 goals, 1 assist). The Commodores outshot the Bears, 32-16, and collected 27 ground balls to Cal's 17.

"It was frustrating and disappointing because I think we had the opportunity to beat them," Cal head coach Jill Malko said. "We turned the ball over too much in midfield in transition. Vanderbilt did a nice job of recognizing and controlling the tempo. They had the ball the majority of the second half, and that's the story. Our turnovers led to their ability to control the tempo."

Cal broke out to a 2-1 lead on goals by Cavallo and Reifsnyder sandwiched around an Ashley Paschall strike. Vanderbilt then scored the next three goals to take a 4-2 lead. Dale and freshman teammate Alyse Kennedy scored at 27:04 and 29:54 to give Cal a 4-4 tie heading into halftime.

The Commodores got a goal from Jennifer Tapscott and two from Kendall Thrift to open the second half and take a 7-4 lead. Cal junior Danni Zuralow scored at 43:55 and Dale scored off a free-position shot at 50:19 to make the score 7-6. But Cal would not got another shot, while Curran scored at 54:12 and teammate Cara Giordano scored at 59:42 to make the final score 9-6.

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2007-03-29